YWCA Central Alabama chief Suzanne Durham to retire at end of year; Yolanda Sullivan to be interim CEO

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- After more
than three decades with the YWCA Central Alabama, Suzanne Durham is looking
forward to not needing a plan.

Durham, who's
served as executive director and CEO of the YWCA since joining the company in
1979, is retiring at the end of the year, handing the reins over to Yolanda Sullivan,
who's leaving Vulcan Materials company.

When Durham
joined the YWCA, she didn't plan on staying more than five years, she said. The
YWCA was six months from foreclosure, she said, and she planned on eventually heading back
to the American Red Cross, where she had been since 1977.

But Durham
stayed, the YWCA had two capital campaigns that each raised more than $15
million, and the organization now owns more than a dozen buildings, has 150
rental properties and provides support to women and families in central Alabama
who struggle with domestic violence and other issues.

"I'm just
really pleased with the strength of the organization, the board and the
transition team," Durham said.

Durham didn't
just play a role in helping the YWCA grow in Alabama. She served on the
national YWCA board and was chairwoman and also led a delegation of 130 people
to Kenya for the World Council in 2006, according to a news release from the YWCA.

Durham said
the organization is in good hands with the board, transition team and interim CEO.

"Yolanda may
not know where all the keys are in the building but she knows the keys to
success," she said of Sullivan.

Sullivan,
who is retiring from Vulcan Materials Company after 30 years there, has been a
leader in the YWCA for more than 20 years and helped lead one of those $15
million capital campaigns from 2007-2010. Sullivan will take over in January.

Durham said
Sullivan knows the staff and the organization and has worked closely with her
on different projects.

"Suzanne
Durham is an amazing leader. She has been an inspiration to us all as she has
led this organization, always reminding us of our mission and helping us meet
the needs of women, children and families in our changing world.," Board
President Kathryn Harbert said in a news release.

Durham said
the board has given her a consulting project so she can stay involved with
special projects, but for the most part she's looking forward to taking a step
back.